John g



J- G. WEBSTER.

Machine for Measuringcloth in the Loom.

Patented Feb. 19, 1850.

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JOHN G. WEBSTER, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND JOHNW'.

ROBERTSON, OF SAME PLACE.

MEASURING CLOTH ON LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 7 ,112, dated February 19, 1850.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN G. VEBSTER, ofLowell, Middlesex county, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented anew or Improved Apparatus to be Applied to a Loom and for Measuring orIndicating the Amount of Cloth Woven; and I do hereby declare that mysaid improvement is fully described and represented in the followingspecification and accompanying drawings, letters, figures, andreferences thereof.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1, denotes a top view of my said apparatusas afiixed to the top surface of the breast beam of a loom and asapplied to the cloth while the same is being woven. Fig. ""2, is alongitudinal section of the breast beam and the said appa ratus. Fig. 3,is a transverse section of the is placed, the said roller being aflixedupon a horizontal shaft E, and having its periphery studded with pointsas seen at a, a, &c. The surface or selvage of the cloth, rests on theperimeter of the roller and so that the said points may pass into orthrough the cloth. The said shaft projects from and has a bearing in acircular or other proper shaped box F, on whose upper surface or topplate is a graduated circle, as seen at G, Fig. 1. On the middle of thatpart of the shaft which is within the box there is an endless screw H,which is made to engage with a worm gear I, fixed upon a vertical shaftK, which carries a small gear or pinion L. On another shaft M, there isa toothed gear N, which engages with the pinion L. Besides the said gearN, an index pointer O, is fixed on the shaft M, the said index pointerbeing so arranged above the graduated plate or circle G, as to operatein connection therewith and indicate the measure of the cloth woven,suitable divisions or marks being made in the index plat-e, and thewhole of the machinery being properly proportioned in order to producethe desired effect, or measurement of the cloth as in the proportion ofits production in the loom.

Above the cloth when it covers the toothed wheel or cylinder, I apply aplate or guard P, which is made to rest so nearly in contact with thepoints of the wheel, as to prevent the cloth from slipping offtherefrom. The said guard or plate is so hinged to the breast beam or aplate Q, screwed thereto, (as seen at b) as to be capable of beingturned up into a vertical position. It is held down upon the cloth bymeans of a spring catch 0 (see Fig. 5, which represents a. verticalsection of the guard and its catch) which is fastened to the breast beamor the plate Q, and extends through an orifice all, made through theguard.

The purpose of the guard is not only to protect the teeth of the wheelor cylinder from injury, but to prevent the cloth from slipping off thewheel whenever it becomes necessary to draw it forward, as it often isin order to remove extraneous matters or bunches of cotton or woolenfiber which may have accidentally become introduced and woven betweenthe threads. Should the cloth be pulled forward or in a direction towardthe heddles, the guard prevents it from rising off the teeth so as toprevent the correct measurement of it. The forward movement. of thetoothed wheel occasioned thereby will be compensated by a returnmovement of it which takes place as soon as the cloth is relieved fromthe force by which it was moved forward.

I am aware that a roller or. cylinder and clockwork have been combinedand used for indicating the length of any surface against which theperiphery of the said roller might be placed and rolled such acontrivance being generally known by the name of way meter, carriagemeter, or pedemeter.

I am also aware that a roller or cylinder and a pencil marking apparatushave been applied to the cloth beam of a loom in order to mark intoequal lengths or parts the cloth woven upon the said cloth loom. Ithere- In testimony whereof I have hereto set my signature the fifth dayof September A. D. 10

JOHN G. WEBSTER.

Witnesses:

JAMES KEYEs, JOSHUA CONVERSE.

